Sue Khartoum over “stolen” oil: South Sudan parliament
Ngor Arol Garang
January 26, 2012 (JUBA) – The Speaker of the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly on Thursday said the house has unanimously endorsed the cabinet’s decision of to stop production and exportation of crude oil to the international markets through neighboring Sudan.
Khartoum stresses that it has confiscated South Sudanese oil as compensation for unpaid transit fees.
Juba says Khartoum has “looted” US$815 million worth of its oil while the Sudanese government claims that its southern neighbor owes US$1 billion in unpaid transit fees.
Negotiations hosted by the AU High-level implementation panel in Addis Ababa have thus far failed.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, James Wani Igga, speaker of the National Assembly said he and the speaker of the council of state, Joseph Bol Chan, presented a resolution to the house, supporting decision made by the Council of Ministers on January 20th, to suspend oil production.
“The house has been closely following events since December Khartoum started stealing and blocking ships entering to load at the terminals in Port Sudan. This is against the spirit of brotherhood and mutual cooperation between the two states. Because of this the two houses in reference to National Legislative Assembly and council of States, condemned these unilateral decisions and actions in the strongest terms possible”, Igga told the press.
Igga said the houses had resolved and passed a resolution condemning Sudan for stopping shipments of the Republic of South Sudan’s entitlements at Port Sudan.
The house also called on Khartoum to end the confiscation of crude oil belonging to South Sudan and efforts to destabilise the new nation.
The two houses made the following resolutions:
1. The two houses unanimously support the decision of the Council of Ministers to shut down oil operation in South Sudan;
2. The two houses request the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining to avail to the two houses comprehensive data covering oil agreements, production, and sales before and after CPA;
3. Request the government of the Republic of South Sudan to sue the government of Sudan at the international court in order to recover the stolen South Sudan oil;
4. Instructed the government of the Republic of South Sudan to complain to the UN Security Council, AU and regional institutions;
5. Continue dialogue with the NCP on outstanding issues of the CPA;
6. Protect and secure all oil fields in South Sudan;
7. Seek bilateral agreements with the regional and international entities in order to protect the territory of South Sudan; and
8. Request the UNMISS to protect the civilians in the oil fields in case they are attacked by Khartoum.
(ST)